The two-time world champion will compete in Japanese Super Formula next year as he pursues a new challenge
Photography by Toyota
Words by Luke Barry
Kalle Rovanperä will quit the World Rally Championship at the end of the 2025 season, pursuing a career in circuit racing instead.
The two-time world champion will compete in the Japanese Super Formula Championship in 2026 with the support of Toyota Gazoo Racing, and is “targeting the highest levels of circuit racing”.
Rovanperä, who became a World Rally winner at just 20 years old and a world champion at 22, stepped back from a full WRC season to incorporate outside interests including circuit racing and drifting last year. Having recently turned 25, he feels the time is right to take an even bigger change of career direction.
While Rovanperä hasn’t competed in single-seater racing, he tested a Red Bull RB8 Formula 1 car (as well as Formula 4 and Formula Renault 3.5 machinery) at the Red Bull Ring last November.
He said: “This decision has not been an easy one, but itʼs one that I have been thinking about for a while. Having already achieved so much in rallying at this age, I started to think about what other possibilities I might have and what other challenges I would like to take on. It has been a tough decision, but it feels like the right one to pursue my next dreams and challenges.
Rovanperä has broken multiple WRC records since joining Toyota's works team in 2020
“Itʼs special to have the support of Toyota Gazoo Racing from the start of this new challenge and to be able to race in Super Formula. I know that itʼs jumping straight into the deep end, coming from rallying, but Iʼm really looking forward to it and together with TGR we have a good plan to prepare in the best way possible and to try and make the most of it.
“Since I started driving as a small kid, it was my dream to be a WRC driver, to win a rally, and to become world champion. To have achieved all that at such a young age has been an incredible feeling, and a big thanks goes to TGR-WRT: we have done some really great things together and it has been a pleasure to work with such an amazing team.”
Rovanperä was quick to pay tribute to the man who has been alongside him for every single one of his WRC starts: “I also canʼt thank Jonne [Halttunen, co-driver] enough for his help since our first days working together,” he said. “Very big thanks too to all the fans who have been supporting us through all the ups and downs.
“We still have three rallies to go and we will give it everything and keep pushing until the end.”
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala added: “Kalle has already enjoyed a remarkable career in the WRC with Toyota Gazoo Racing, becoming the youngest ever winner of a rally and then the youngest world champion, and winning the driversʼ title twice. Given he has achieved so much and is still so young, itʼs only natural that he would want to go for another challenge while he is able to do so.
Toyota will miss Rovanperä, but the manufacturer "believes in helping drivers achieve their dreams"
“Weʼve seen racing drivers come and try rallying, but very rarely have we seen it the other way around: that a rally driver goes to circuit racing and tries to challenge the best, especially not in single-seater racing. TGR believes in helping drivers achieve their dreams and I donʼt think there are many manufacturers who could give a driver that kind of opportunity, which is a very exciting one for both sides.
“Kalle, together with Jonne, has played a big part in our teamʼs success over the last few seasons and, with three rallies left, I know he will certainly want to end his rally career as world champion – though he has two team-mates who also desperately want to win.
“We will miss having him in our team, but TGR has been working hard to develop talented young rally drivers and we can be confident that we will be able to count on a strong line-up of drivers in 2026 and beyond.”
Rovanperä trails his team-mate Sébastien Ogier in the world championship by 21 points with three rounds remaining, starting with next week’s Central European Rally.
Words:Luke Barry
Tags: Kalle Rovanperä, racing, Toyota, WRC, WRC 2026
Publish Date October 9, 2025 DirtFish 
https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2025/10/ROVANPERA09FIN25tb704-780x1170.jpg October 9, 2025
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